Protective device for openable windows of buildings



P 9, 1969 J. VIRKKI 3,465,477

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR OPENABLE WINDOWS OF BUILDINGS Filed Nov. 7. 1967Fla 3 l0 I9 z 2o 9 m 21 I7 I r 2? INVENTOR: j. V/kk OZZMOZAU ATTO LNEBSUnited States Patent 3,465,477 PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR OPENABLE WINDOWS OFBUILDINGS Jalmari Virkki, Tuulitie 3, Vantaa, Finland Filed Nov. 7,1967, Ser. No. 681,247 Claims priority, application Finland, Nov. 10,1966, 2, 66/66 Int. Cl. A47h 2.1/00

US. CI. 49-54 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A protective devicefor the window of a building includes vertical and horizontal bars whichare so pivoted to the hinge edge of the window frame that they remainout of view when the window is closed and are actuated by the opening ofthe window to be swung across the window opening.

The present invention has reference to a protective device for openablewindows of buildings, particularly multistorey buildings, with thepurpose of eliminating the possibility of falling out of the window.

Previous art includes many kinds of protective devices intended foropenable windows and meant to eliminate the possibility of falling outof the window especially in the case of small children, persons lackingfull use of their senses and those engaged in window cleaning or repairwork. However, these previously known devices are either fixed"structures of grating or net type, or detachable separate protectivedevices which are inserted in their place after the window has beenopened.

Also some devices have been presented which close the window aperturewhen the window is opened, but owing to their heavy construction andunwieldiness they have not gained any general use.

The object of the present invention is, accordingly, to develop a newtype of positively functioning protective device for openable windowswhich, on opening the window, is immediately and automatically loweredin front of the window aperture and which in itself constitutes aseparate unit, which is readily adaptable for series production.

The following advantages are thus gained: While the Window is closed,the protective device remains out of view, admitting unrestricted visionoutwards through the window. The restricting bars of the protectivedevice are immediately lowered in front of the window aperture when thewindow is opened and are secured at their other ends in recesses in theframe or in fittings mounted on it, precluding any fall out of thewindow, so that e.g. small children may be safely left at home even bythemselves if need be.

The protective device according to the invention is aestheticallycompletely flawless and it is easy to install even on windows in oldhouses. The protective device can be mounted either between the panes ofdouble windows or on their outside, depending on the direction in whichthey open.

One of the embodiments of the invention is described in the following incloser detail, with reference to the attached drawings, of which FIG. 1presents a protective device according to the invention as mounted on anarrow ventilating window, with the inner window pane removed. FIG. 2shows a section along the line A- A in FIG. I, in larger scale and withthe inner window pane in its place and closed, in which situation therestricting bars are held out of view, and FIG. 3 displays the mechanismof the protective device in opened condition, this protective devicehaving only horizontal restricting bars.

3,465,477 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 In FIG. 1, 1 refers to the windowframe'to the side of which adjacent to the window hinges a protectivehousing 10 for the restricting bars 9 and 17 having a U-shaped crosssection has been fixed, the restricting bars 9 being turnably pivoted inthis housing on pins 19. The vertical restricting bar 17, again, isturnably pivoted by both ends to the restricting bars 9, by means of thepins 18. The free ends of the horizontal restricting bars are secured infittings 20 fixed to the frame. To the lower end of the protectivehousing 10 the actuating mechanism for the restricting bars has beenattached, which comprises a slide box 5, in the groove of which theslide 4 moves, governed by the pivoted link 12, which has been pivotedat one end to the lug 11 on the slide and at its other end has beenlinked by means of the shaft pin 14 With the bracket 13 mounted on thewindow sash 2, as FIG. 2 indicates.

The horizontally movable slide 4 has been connected by the pivot 7 tothe turnable link 6, the other end of which actuates, by means of thepivot pin 8, the lowermost horizontal restricting bar 9, from which themotion is transmitted by the vertical bar 17 to the upper restrictingbar 9.

When it is not desired to use the protective device, it can be easilydisengaged e.g. by detaching the pivot pin 14.

From FIG. 2 the mode of installation of the protective device can beseen, for which a hole is drilled in the frame 1 for the slide box 5, aswell as an oblique bore 15 for the link 12. As is evident from thefigure, the restricting bars are completely out of view behind thehinge-side sash moulding when the window is closed.

In FIG. 3 a protective device has been shown in which three horizontalrestricting bars 9 have been used, their ends pivoted on the protectivcehousing 14) by pins 19 being bent at an angle and each of them pivotedby means of pins 21 to a common connecting rod 22, which transmits themotion of the slide 4 from the lowermost restricting bar to the upperones. The lower forward edge of the groove in the slide box 5 has beenrounded at the point 23 in view of the turning of the link 6.

The actuating mechanism for the restricting bars of the protectivedevice may also be constructed using a rackand-pinion transmission, inwhich case the rack governed by the slide obtains its motion incorresponding manner by mediation of a pivoted link attached to thehinge-side frame of the window.

A protective device according to the invention may be installed onoutward as well as inward opening windows having a frame of timber ormetal construction. If in the case of a double window both panes openinward, the protective device is mounted outside the outer pane on thehinge-side part of the frame, and the free ends of the restricting barswill then be secured in protruding fittings mounted on the frame.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments presented in theforegoing, and it can be modified in various ways within the scope ofthe claims presented below.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective device in combination with a frame having a window sashhingedly mounted therein, said protective device comprising a firstvertical bar fixed to said frame adjacent the hinge side of said windowsash, a plurality of vertically spaced bars each pivotally mountedadjacent the ends thereof to said fixed vertical bar and adapted toswing from a folded inoperative position alongside said first verticalbar to a horizontal operative position across the window opening, asecond vertical bar pivotally interconnecting said plurality of bars ata point horizontally displaced from their pivotal connection to saidfixed vertical bar, and operating means connected between the hinge edgeof said window sash and at least one of said plurality of bars wherebysaid plurality of 'bars swing from the folded inoperative positionadjacent the fixed vertical bar when the window sash is closed, to ahorizontal operative position bridging the window opening when thewindow sash is opened.

2. A protective device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the secondvertical bar is located substantially in the middle of thefirst-mentioned bars.

3. A protective device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the secondvertical bar is located substantially close to those ends of thefirst-mentioned bars which are located close to the hinges of saidwindow sash in said operative position.

4. A protective device in accordance with claim 1, comprising fittingscarried by the window frame and engaging the free ends of thefirst-mentioned bars when the first-mentioned bars are in theiroperative position.

5. A protective device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said firstvertical bar comprises a protective housing connected with the windowframe and partly enclosing said bars when they are folded in theirinoperative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,726,188 8/1929 Martin 49542,539,345 1/1951 Creech 49-54 FOREIGN PATENTS 76,297 8/ 1961 France.530,694 12/ 1940 Great Britian.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 49-114; 160-102

